Today, more and more people decide to go vegan. Not only can this change your body, but it can also have a positive impact on the planet. People who follow a vegan diet may experience some things differently than meat-eaters and vegetarians, from the health of their joints and bones to how well they sleep at night.
We want to share with you exactly what happens to us when we go vegan, and (spoiler alert) the results are both positive and negative.
You May Sleep Better
This is because vegans, in general, eat more fibrous foods and less saturated fat. One study found that this may be the perfect recipe for a good night’s sleep.
With a plant-based diet, you are likely to eat more complex carbohydrates that stimulate the release of serotonin and help you sleep.
This means that eating starchy foods like rice and potatoes before bed can help you sleep better at night.
You May Lose Some Weight
Several studies have shown that going vegan has an impact on your weight. In one study, adults and children who ate vegan ate less protein, cholesterol, and saturated fat.
In fact, the children who followed the vegan diet lost an average of 6.7 pounds (3.1 kg) during the study period.
Your Hormones Can Change
Although soy can be a good substitute for meat, eating too much can have negative effects on your body. This can happen if you regularly replace the protein in meat with soy protein.
Eating large amounts of soy has been found to disrupt the thyroid gland, which is responsible for hormonal balance and control. This can lead to imbalances, which means that it may be healthier to look for other substitutes.
Your Joints Are Less Inflamed
Foods like butter, cheese, and hamburgers can cause joint inflammation because they are high in saturated fat. New research shows that a plant-based diet, specifical veganism, can help with rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.
This is partly because you will not be eating as much saturated fat and also because you will be eating more foods that actually fight inflammation.
You Taste Things Differently
Switching from a diet of junk food and animal products high in salt, fat, and sugar can affect your taste buds. The sensitivity of your taste buds changes when you start a plant-based diet and eliminate animal products and fats.
This may mean that you discover a new love for foods that you have never liked before.
You Become More Bloated
Eating lots of vegetables like Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and cabbage can mean that your stomach is full of excess gas. This can make you feel bloated, as your body cannot process all the fibers.
Therefore, it is recommended that you drink plenty of water on a vegan diet to ensure that your digestive system is digesting your food in a healthy way.
Your Skin May Be Clearer
What we eat can directly affect our skin. Studies suggest that plant-based diets can clear acne and generally improve skin health.
By restricting your intake of dairy products and eating more foods that are natural antioxidants, you may be doing your skin a favor.
It seems that eating too many dairy products can negatively affect the skin due to the hormones and steroids naturally present in them.
Your Body Odor Changes
While eating meat can cause you to release strong-smelling toxins, vegetables and grains also change their smell. Some vegetables contain a lot of natural sulfur, such as cabbage and onions.
When your diet includes a lot of these, your sweat and breath can start to smell like food being broken down in your body.
Would you give up meat and dairy? We’d love to hear from our vegan readers about how their body has changed after going vegan!
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